The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1887-05-12
SENIOR CASTELAR,.
Pen Picture of the Famous Spanish Orator.
Publicist and Statesman.

06tN0n SsA9t t6ss%os
Pen Picture of the Famous Spanish Oratoe,
Publicist and Statesman.
CASTELAR, is known throughout Eli.
rope as really the most complete cx-
preston of Spanish eloqusncc. He
carries his worship of form almost to
idolatTy; his eloquence is music. his
diction the slave of his ear. He says
or does not say a thing; or rather, he
says it better in one sense than in an
other, according as it rounds or does
not round period. He has harmony
in his mind; he follows, obeys it, and
saritices to it all that offends. His pc
riods are strophes; it is necessary to
hear in order to believe that human
language without poetic measure can
thus approach the harmony of poesy
and of song. He is more the artist
than the politician; he has not only the
genius but the heart of the artist-the
heart of a child, incapable of enmity
or If malice In all his speeches there
is not to be found an abusive epithet;
in the Cortes he has never pro-
voked serious personal encoun-
ter; has never recourse to a satire,
nor ever makes use of irony,
into his most violent philippics he never
infuses drop of gall; and this is evil
dencc of the fact that Republican, an
opponent of every ministry. a journal
istic gladiator, the perpetual accuser of
whomsoever holds power and of all who
are not fanatical for liberty, he has
made himself hated by no one. And
with all this, his speeches are enjoyed
and never feared; his language is too
beautiful to be terrible, his character
too ingenious for him to exercise po-
itical influence. He does not know
how to fence, to plot, to trim his sails
he is fitted only to please and to shine.
His eloquence when greatest is tender;
his most beautiful discourses draw
tears. For him the chamber is the
ater; like a political improvisator, in
order to have full and calm inspira-
ton, he must speak at a certain hour,
upon a determined point and with an
allotted time of liberty to himself. For
this reason, the day on which he is to
speak he has an understanding with
the president of the Chamber that his
turn will come when the galleries are
most crowded and all the deputies are
in their places, his own paper an
.nouncing his speech the evening
previous, in order that ladies may
be able to provide themselves with
tickets. He has need of this excite
ment. Before speaking he is uneasy
and can not remain still for an instant.
He enters the Chamber. leaves it, re-
enters, turns to 60 out, takes the round
of the corridors and library, where he
turns over the leaves of a volume-in
a word, he is in fever of excitement.
1t seems to him as if he could not utter
syllable-that he must excite ridieule
and be Kissed. In his mind no longer
remains single lucid idea of his
speech; every thing is confused; every
thing forgotten. How is your pulser'
his friends inquire of him, with a
smile. The supreme moment arrived,
he springs to the floor, with head bent
pale and trembling, like a criminal
about to be executed, resigned to lose
in single moment the glory acquired
through so many years and with such
indefatigable labor. At this instant
an enemy even would compassionate
his condition. He rises, throws a rapid
glance around him and speaks" -"Sena.
tors!' He is safe; his courage is re.
stored to him; his brains is again un.
clouded! his speech rearranges itself in
his mind like long forgotten melody.
The president, the Cortes, the galleries
disappear; he sees only his gestures
hears only his own voice; feels but th {
irresistible flame that enkindles the
force of his own matchless eloquence. II
is beautiful to hear him say of himself:
81 do not see the walls of the apart
ment, even. I behold distant lands
and peoples which have never seen
before" He speaks for hours together
and not a Deputy leaves the hall, not g
voice interrupts, not movement dis.
tracts him. Not even when he violate:
Parliamentary rules has the president
; the courage to interrupt him. Clad in
robes of dazzling whiteness and
crowned with roses, he portrays at will
the image of the Republic; and mon.
archists do not venture to protest. for
thus arrayed they even find her beauti
full. CASTELAR, is lord of the assembly
He flashes and Eliminates, scintillate:
and beams like feu d. artifce; he pro-
vokes smile or he calls forth enthusi
astic shouts, ending in the midst of al
outburst of applause, and vanishing
from the Chamber with his head in the
clouds. Such is this famous Castelar,
professor of history in the University
most prolific writer on politics, ar
and religion, publicist who draws
from American journals ten Thousand
dollars yearly; an academician, unani
mously elected by the Spanish Acad
emy, pointed out in thoroughfares
feted by the populace, loved by ever
his opponents, young man, polished
generous, a little vain and a favorite
of fortune. AniceS.
Courting With Brass Band.